ZTE MF190 frustration

G

gripen

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I have one of these and have been struggling to get any throughout out of it. Yes, it is enabled for 3G and every now and then it gets ok speed in very select locations. It's as if the internal antenna is too small. When I do a side by side test with a similar Huawei device, the difference is incredible. Sub-dialup on the ZTE vs. proper HSPA on the Huawei. I've contacted Cell C about swopping but got no response. The next test will be performance on the Gautrain but with this device being so crap standing still I'm not going to hold my breath.

Any tips or hints? I don't really want to have to carry a woktenna with me everywhere. At the moment it is such a waste I'm pretty much not using it. Putting a vodacom SIM in the device is not much better so it's definitely the device, not a coverage issue. What tricks can I use to get it swopped for a Huawei? I tested a friend's Huawei and the service was perfect - which led me to get my own, little did I know I would be conned into getting this stupid ZTE piece of junk.
 
@gripen

I have just got one of these ZTE MF190 modems, which I am using with a TP-LINK MR3420 3G router.
Not too impressed with the speeds as of yet.
Signal at around 55% on the router signal strength meter and download speed tests on average around 2.8Mbps.
Was hoping for a little better.
May try a coupler and external antenna soon to see if this improves things.
Pity the modem does not have an external antenna connector.

Regarding your comment about working ok on some parts of the Gautrain route, do you use this while in motion on the Gautrain?

Was just thinking what issues may arise with the speed of motion and multiple handovers between cell towers?
 
No. The thing is rubbish standing still. I ran a continuous ping on the Gautrain and found that in 2 places there was good coverage, probably towers right next to the track. In these spots the handoff seemed fine and I did not need to re-connect. I put it down to a crappy antenna in the little USB device (harsh yes, but Huawei gets it right..). Having no external antenna connector also sucks (again, some of the Huawei's have this). I guess ZTE was cheaper. You get what you pay for (if you were given a choice).

So it's a bad combination of coverage (900MHz not all that great it seems) and a rubbish device. I think I would get more satisfaction out of putting the device on a rough piece of car and reversing over it with my car. That would be fun :-) and it would actually work at about the same speed afterward too.
 
It is a piece of junk, worse is if you have multiple sim cards and you basically have to strip the modem to get the sim inside of it. Also, in places where the Huawei modems get 3g signal.... the ZTE`s only get edge. They are terrible. Worst idea ever from CellC.
 
Oh yes, I forgot that you have to break it open to change the SIM. So even in the first week, it gets damaged. I wish I could sell mine or swop it for a Huawei that actually gets HSPA and UMTS most of the time. This makes Cell C's network look bad - which is probably not fair. Their decision to go with ZTE though, not mine.
 
gripen said:
Oh yes, I forgot that you have to break it open to change the SIM.
Click to expand...

That's ridiculous!! Thank goodness I've got the E1820.

I wonder why Cell C changed their 2GB package modems to ZTE MF190, was there problems with the hauwei E1752?
 
Agreed, compared to my Vodafone branded Huawei K3765 (metal slide in SIM drawer), SIM swapping is a pain.
Wonder if any ZTE MF190 users have ever seen close to the 7.2Mbps quoted spec?
 
@Madhawk
I have read in the modems thread (I think it was), there was mention of Huawei overheating and disconnect issues...maybe that prompted the change?
 
Base122 said:
@Madhawk
I have read in the modems thread (I think it was), there was mention of Huawei overheating and disconnect issues...maybe that prompted the change?
Click to expand...

You know, I would take a hot Huawei anyday. You can't take cost out of the equation though. The Huaweis do definitely heat up a lot but AT LEAST THEY WORK. Perhaps if they ZTE actually received some signal it would heat up too. Damn, I was hoping someone had a solution (maybe a patch, drivers, break-it-open and you will find the antenna port or something...). Fark.
 
gripen said:
I have one of these and have been struggling to get any throughout out of it. Yes, it is enabled for 3G and every now and then it gets ok speed in very select locations. It's as if the internal antenna is too small. When I do a side by side test with a similar Huawei device, the difference is incredible. Sub-dialup on the ZTE vs. proper HSPA on the Huawei. I've contacted Cell C about swopping but got no response. The next test will be performance on the Gautrain but with this device being so crap standing still I'm not going to hold my breath.

Any tips or hints? I don't really want to have to carry a woktenna with me everywhere. At the moment it is such a waste I'm pretty much not using it. Putting a vodacom SIM in the device is not much better so it's definitely the device, not a coverage issue. What tricks can I use to get it swopped for a Huawei? I tested a friend's Huawei and the service was perfect - which led me to get my own, little did I know I would be conned into getting this stupid ZTE piece of junk.
Click to expand...

Good day gripen

Look on the Cell c website:
http://www.cellc.co.za/internet/drivers

there are Win 7 32Bit / 64 Bit drivers.
try and let me know.

Regards
~AM~
 
Cell_C said:
Good day gripen

Look on the Cell c website:
http://www.cellc.co.za/internet/drivers

there are Win 7 32Bit / 64 Bit drivers.
try and let me know.

Regards
~AM~
Click to expand...

Ok, that link is incorrect. However, I installed the Firmware upgrade and Connector software as per the website (http://www.cellc.co.za/internet/page/support/desktop-software/2). It seems a little bit better. I'll have to do more testing and let you know. This Connector software seems new, it wasn't there a month or so ago. Let's see how it performs. I'm getting a more consistent response on my continuous ping now at least (ping 8.8.8.8 -l 1 -t).

Ok it's very inconsistent even while I type this. I guess that is a coverage issue then (Cell breathing).
 
Taking a stab in the dark here, but have you guys tried using the modem in different USB ports?
 
Madhawk said:
Taking a stab in the dark here, but have you guys tried using the modem in different USB ports?
Click to expand...

Yes (tried all of them across 2 different laptops), also via extension cables - with Pringle can. Everything. No change. Further to my previous post, it lost the IP connection (Radio connection still there) so now it's completely dead as per usual. I did also check and I'm in a well covered HSPA area.
 
Are you also getting allocated IP's between the 41.x and then 197.x ranges on reconnects?
Any difference in performance between the two ranges?
 
Hard to say, sample size of 1 but 41.55 seems to perform better. Much more stable actually. The 197 IP seemed a lot less stable, however, I don't think this has anything to with it. Probably more of a radio issue. I will keep an eye on the IP allocations though, good point. What have you found? Which is "better"?
 
Tried reconnecting several times now and not getting 197.x range at the moment. Maybe they only allocate that range when they run out of 41.x addresses during really busy times (noticed that the last two evenings), which may indicate more connected customers (nearing saturation), hence degraded overall network performance?
 
Just a quick update:
Ran a few throughput comparison tests between the ZTE MF190 and Huawei K3765 over the last few days.
Throughput is pretty much the same, with each achieving best speeds around 6.5Mbps, not bad for the 7.2Mbps spec.

However, throughput varies considerably during the day and generally drops off toward the evening.
Weekdays and weekends probably show different trends speedwise.

I guess this is to be expected(?), with increased customer connections (file download type sustained traffic compared with surfing type "bursty" traffic?) and network loading.

Speeds drop off on both modems to as low as 1.4Mbps at times.

So I don't think it would be fair to demonize the ZTE MF190, as it can perform close to spec.
Throughput seems to be rather a time of day issue than a general device performance one.

Maybe some other users can share their experiences with this ZTE modem.
But remember, if you do comparisons, try and do them at the same time and location and not one device in the morning vs. one at night.
 
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